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94 DIVING FOR PEARLS book ii
at
which the oyster is found, the pearl is whitest, because the water is
not so hot there, and the sun has more difficulty in penetrating to the
bottom, it is necessary to correct this error. The fishing is carried
on in from 4 to 12 cubits depth on the banks, where there are sometimes
up to 250 boats. In the majority of the boats there is but one diver,
and in the largest only two. These boats sail from the coast every day
before sunrise, with a land wind which never fails and lasts till 10
a.m. In the afternoon they return with a wind from the sea, which
succeeds the land-wind, and does not fail to blow at 11 or 12 o'clock,
as soon as the other has ceased. The banks are 5 or 6 leagues out to
sea, and when the boats have arrived there the oysters are fished for
in the following manner :-—
A
cord is tied under the arms of those who dive, which those who remain
in the boats hold by the end. A stone of 18 to 20 pounds weight is
attached to the diver's great toe which those who remain in the boat
also hold by a rope. They have a net made like a sack, the mouth of
which is surrounded by a hoop to keep it open, and this net is attached
like the rest. Then the diver plunges into the sea, and as soon as he
reaches the bottom, which he does quickly, on account of the weight of
the stone attached to his great toe, he removes the stone, and those
who are in the barque draw it up. For as long as the diver is able to
hold his breath he puts oysters into the net, and as soon as he feels
that he is unable to hold out longer, he pulls the cord which is tied
under his arms ; this is the signal for him to be drawn up, which those
who are in the boat do as quickly as they can. The people of Manar are
better fishers, and remain for a longer time under the water than those
of Bahrein and Al Katlf, for they do not place any clips on their noses
nor cotton in their ears to keep the water from entering, as is done in
the Persian Gulf.
After
the diver has been drawn into the boat the nets containing the oysters
are hauled up, and it requires about seven or eight minutes to lift the
oysters and to give the diver time to regain breath, after which he
returns to the bottom as before ; this he does many times during ten or
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